The Real McRae: The Autobiography of the People's Champion

by Colin McRae

Colin McRae was the youngest World Rally Champion ever. This book charts his dramatic and dangerous climb to the pinnacle of success. Colin talks about the skills, the speed, the danger, the friendships, the rivalries, and the adrenalin. This passionate life story takes us from McRae's close family upbringing—within a dynasty of rally drivers—through his early success with Subaru, through his wins with Ford, the much hyped competition with Richard Burns and his incredible lifestyle.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Colin Steele McRae, was a British rally driver from Scotland, born in Lanark. The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and brother of rally driver Alister McRae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and, in 1995 became the first British person and the youngest to win the World Rally Championship.

McRae died in 2007 when he crashed his helicopter near his home.

Reviews

[Andrew Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book reads more like a series of interviews were transcribed and then edited together to form an autobiographical narrative. McRae does not come across as a deep thinker like Richard Burns, so the book doesn't have the maturity of reflection in it that Burns' 'Driving Ambition' does. Still, McRae's story is an interesting one and he was certainly amongst the very fastest rally drivers over a single stage. His testy relationship with Carlos Sainz is a central feature of the book, and it's clear that McRae was his own man. For casual motorsport fans, this will be an enjoyable read.